Since their successful fundraising, Enova have been busy preparing the processes and systems that will form the backbone of their business. This process of building the retail company is a major project for Enova and will enable them to start bringing their first customers on-board.

In addition to this, Enova have moved into new premises in Byron Bay in NSW and they have also commenced work on establishing their Not For Profit arm, Enova Community, who will deliver non-financial benefits back into the Northern Rivers community.

The creation of Australia’s first community-owned energy retailer is a very welcome development for the sector and we look forward to tracking their development over the coming months and years.

CORENA leads the way in donation-based community energy, with their unique “Quick Win” revolving fund model that re-uses donated funds for multiple solar projects.

Donated funds are used to provide interest-free loans to community organisations so they can pay for solar installations and energy efficiency measures. These loans are repaid over time out of the savings made on power bills. Repayments then help fund subsequent projects.

Corena are fundraising for their 12th and 13th project and to-date have raised almost $120,000 – all donated by a growing supporter base from across Australia. Projects have been completed in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

ClearSky are true pioneers in community energy in Australia. Setup in 2013 by the Northern Beaches (Sydney) chapter of Clean Energy for Eternity, the group’s objective was to empower local communities to benefit environmentally and economically from the production of clean energy.

ClearSky Solar Investments launched its first project in 2013 with an installation on a pub in Boggabri NSW. Since then community investors have financed 12 projects across NSW and Victoria with a total capacity of 440 kW. Community investors get a return of between 6 to 9% depending on the terms of the contract. To date ClearSky Solar have raised over $650,000 in capital and have paid out $118,000 in quarterly payments to investors.

With the support of a NSW Growing Community Energy grant, Pingala has been working with three aboriginal communities in North-West NSW. The project is a partnership with The Valley Centre and addresses critical energy affordability issues for households in these communities.

The communities themselves have been at the centre of driving the direction of the project and this has led to the creation of a new energy business model that enables community investment, local community ownership & management of power and local training and employment opportunities.

Pingala will be partnering with indigenous energy corporation, AllGrid Energy, for the implementation phase of the project and a publicity campaign will be launching soon. You can register your interest in the meantime by following this link

You are cordially invited to become member of the Coalition for Community Energy (C4CE).

After more than 2 years of work by many people and organisations, culminating in the launch of C4CE and the inaugural Community Energy Congress, we are excited to announce that C4CE membership is now open!

C4CE Membership is open to any organisation, group, agency or project which can demonstrate a genuine involvement with community energy and a commitment to growing a vibrant community energy sector in Australia.

Opportunity

We have the opportunity to create an Australia where hundreds of communities benefit from developing, producing, distributing, selling, saving and buying energy assets and their output. Overseas experience shows we can do this much more effectively if we do this together.

Will you join C4CE today and work collaboratively to make this vision a reality?

C4CE membership benefits:

Knowledge-sharing and capacity-building activities for community energy and C4CE facilitated collaboration across the sector

Access to the C4CE online community

Involvement in C4CE Strategic Initiatives and access to C4CE resources

Supporting a growing and coordinated voice to better advocate for the needs of the sector and have greater influence on the development of the sector

Participating in C4CE decision-making processes

Being eligible to nominate a representative for the Steering Group

Utilising C4CE branding (in accordance with the licence agreement)

Join the sector-wide community that is C4CE

Become an official C4CE member today by completing the online membership application.